Chapter 6
Nathan's POV
When I came downstairs, the dining area was empty.
Chris and my mother had already left for the day.
And Kieran…
I didn't even want to think about him.
I sat down anyway. The food was laid out neatly, untouched, perfect—just like everything else in this house.
It didn't taste like anything.
I wore a turtleneck, the fabric tight against my neck, hiding what needed to stay hidden. My fingers absentmindedly moved as I chewed on an apple, my thoughts somewhere else entirely.
"Good morning."
Zane's voice pulled me back.
I looked up, surprised.
"Good morning," I replied.
He smiled—soft, warm, the kind that made something in my chest ease without permission.
"I see you're having breakfast."
I nodded slightly. "Care to join?"
"Nah, I already ate," he said, taking the seat beside me anyway.
"So… how do you feel?" he asked.
I frowned a little. "About what?"
"You didn't look too good yesterday."
"Oh… yeah. I feel better now. Thank you for last night."
"Don't mention it."
He pulled out his phone, unlocking it quickly.
"I just realized—I don't have your number."
I took it from him and entered mine, handing it back.
"Are you heading to school? I could drop you—"
"What do we have here?"
My words died instantly.
Kieran's voice.
I didn't need to look to know he was already watching.
"Wassup, K," Zane said casually.
Kieran only hummed before taking the seat beside me. Too close.
"What are you doing here this early?" he asked Zane.
"I came to see Nathan. He wasn't feeling well yesterday."
"Oh? Is that right?"
Kieran picked up an apple, his gaze sliding to me.
Slow. Knowing.
I swallowed.
Zane noticed. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I said quickly, standing up before either of them could say anything else.
I grabbed my bag and walked away.
"Wait, Nathan!"
Zane caught up to me just outside the house.
"Let's go together. I'll drop you."
He opened the car door for me.
I hesitated.
"Yeah… why don't we all go together?"
Kieran.
Before I could react, his arm slid around my neck, pulling me closer. My body stiffened instantly.
I caught the flicker of confusion in Zane's eyes—but it disappeared just as fast.
"Kieran's right," he said. "Come on."
Zane reached for the front seat—
But Kieran got there first.
Like he always would.
Zane paused, like he wanted to say something.
I didn't give him the chance.
I slipped into the back seat instead.
Zane exhaled softly and got into the driver's seat.
The car moved.
Silence settled between us. Heavy.
I turned my head toward the window, watching the world blur past.
"Umm… I heard about the banquet tonight," Zane said, trying to lighten the mood.
I glanced at him briefly.
"You must be nervous."
I forced a small smile, but didn't respond.
I just wanted to get out of the car.
I could feel Kieran's eyes on me through the rearview mirror.
Watching.
Always watching.
Zane seemed to notice my silence.
He didn't push it.
Instead, he reached forward and turned on the radio.
A soft, old song filled the car.
And just like that, we drove the rest of the way in silence.
-----
Nathan's POV
We got to school, and I stepped out of the car almost immediately—before Zane could even finish parking.
I needed air. Space. Anything that wasn't that car.
"Nathan!"
I stopped.
Zane jogged up to me, slightly out of breath.
"Hey… um…" he started, rubbing the back of his neck—something I noticed he always did when he was nervous.
I waited.
"I wanted to ask if you're free this weekend."
I blinked, a little surprised.
"I have two tickets to a painting exhibition," he continued. "I was thinking… maybe you'd want to come with me?"
He looked almost unsure of himself.
And for some reason, that made something in me soften.
"Sure," I said.
His face lit up instantly.
"Really? Okay… good. I'll look forward to it."
I smiled faintly.
"Me too."
I turned and walked away, but I couldn't stop the small smile forming on my lips.
For a moment… things felt normal.
"Nathan!"
I looked up.
Bianca.
"Hey," she said, grinning.
Brian stood beside her, giving a small wave. "Hello."
I smiled. "Hey."
"You just disappeared yesterday," Bianca said, nudging me lightly.
"I'm sorry… something came up."
She narrowed her eyes playfully. "Right. I saw you getting into one of those Sinner-cate guys' cars."
"It's the Syndicate," Brian corrected.
"Whatever," she said, waving him off. "Come on, let's get to class. First official lecture."
Brian adjusted his bag. "I'll see you guys later. Law faculty calls."
"Bye, now," Bianca waved.
He was following in my parents' footsteps,he had mentioned.
I watched him go for a second before turning back to Bianca.
We walked into the classroom together.
B5.
It was already full. Students filled almost every seat, voices overlapping, energy buzzing through the room.
We spotted two empty space, and sat there.
In front of me was a standing sketch pad—clean, untouched.
It felt… right.
Like something I understood.
The noise slowly died down when the door opened.
I tried to get out everything that bothered me out, this is something I had always wanted to study, art.
And I'm here now.
A woman walked in—confident, composed. Probably in her early thirties.
"Good morning," she said, placing her materials on the desk.
The room quieted completely.
"This is Introduction to Visual Arts 101."
She glanced around the class.
"I'm Mrs. Shemmenti."
She picked up a marker and turned to the board.
"Let's begin."
---
Kieran's POV
I sat back, my eyes fixed on Zane.
Carl and Marlon were already talking—loud, careless, like always.
"Man, you missed out," Carl said. "Fresh blood were everywhere. We went crazy."
Marlon laughed. "You disappeared too early."
"I had to drop Nathan," Zane said casually.
Vicky leaned forward, her movements sluggish, her eyes unfocused. "Wow… you fucked him?" she asked, her words slightly slurred.
Carl let out a low whistle. "Damn. Now I see why you left."
"How was he?" Vicky continued, grinning lazily. "Can I have him next?"
Jasmine shot her a look of disgust. "Isn't it too early for whatever you're on?"
Vicky only laughed.
"He wasn't feeling well," Zane said finally. "I just dropped him off."
Marlon snorted. "I don't believe that."
"The great Zane isn't that nice unless he wants something," he added.
Zane stood up, unbothered, pouring himself a glass of whiskey.
"Well… I do want something," he said, taking a slow sip.
"I knew it," Carl said, grinning.
"Still," Vicky added, "I call dibs when you're done."
Zane just laughed.
"What about you, Kieran?" Marlon turned to me. "You left early too."
"I went home," I said simply. "The party was dull."
Carl scoffed. "That's because you left, man. I had a threesome."
Zane glanced at me. "You went home?"
"Yeah."
"When?" He asked.
"Right after you left," I replied.
He hummed softly.
"Pour me a drink," Jasmine said, extending her glass.
Zane filled it for her, but I could feel his attention drifting back to me.
"My dad got an invitation to the banquet tonight," Jasmine said.
"What banquet?" Vicky asked.
"The kind only important people get invited to," Jasmine replied smoothly. "So… not you."
"Fuck you," Vicky shot back.
She turned to me. "What's it about, K?"
"Just a gathering," I said. "My father's introducing his wife and… his son."
"How come I didn't get an invite?" she asked.
"I'll get you one," I replied.
She blew me a kiss.
"Slut," Jasmine muttered.
Vicky blew her another one.
Zane moved closer, sitting beside me. He pulled out a cigarette.
"Light?" he asked.
I handed him one.
He lit it, inhaled, then exhaled slowly.
"So," Jasmine said, watching him carefully. "Is this the usual? You just want to sleep with him?"
Marlon laughed. "It's Zane. Of course that's all he wants."
Zane smiled faintly.
"No," he said. "This is different this time."
Jasmine's eyes lit up. "I know that look."
Vicky rolled her eyes.
"That's a man in love," Jasmine said.
"Like you would know," Vicky sneered.
Zane didn't react to either of them.
Instead, he said it plainly.
"She's right."
A pause.
"I'm in love."
My grip tightened slightly against the couch.
I scoffed.
Jasmine squealed, clapping her hands. "Oh my God, I'm so happy for you! Love is beautiful. I've been in love once…" she sighed dramatically.
I didn't hear the rest.
I was still looking at him.
At the way he said it.
At how sure he sounded.
Jasmine turned to me. "Kieran, did you hear him? Zane's in love—"
I stood up.
And walked away.
"K?" she called after me.
I didn't stop.